Censorship claim after interviews are halted

Published on Tuesday 12 August 2008 22:08

FRINGE organisers were accused of censorship last night after it emerged that non-accredited journalists have been prevented from doing interviews on the Royal Mile, one of Edinburgh's main thoroughfares.

Colin Macnab, a freelance sound recordist, said he had been stopped from doing his job on several occasions by members of the Fringe Office staff who believed they could control any media activity on the Royal Mile.

He said he had been stopped from working, told to move and warned that only accredited journalists could work on the street.

Mr Macnab said he had been stopped from working with a German producer last week by one official who told him he was "not on the High Street but on a Fringe venue".

He said he was appalled that he was being treated that way on a public street.

He added: "This is hindering my work. My concern at the end of the day is that this is censorship. It's not on for someone other than an editor to decide what goes on TV."

Duncan Fraser, a spokesman for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, admitted that stewards did patrol the area and members of the media were asked to make sure they were accredited, but he said it was only done to make sure that events ran smoothly. "There is absolutely no question of journalists not being able to do their jobs," he said.

"We are not trying to prevent anybody from doing anything, we are trying to manage the situation so all parties can get on with what they are doing. It's not for any Big Brother-type thing."